Erkan's field diary

So it is real. A few days ago, I and Jim decided a day for the dissertation defense. It is December 8. I have 184 days left. On the top right hand side, countdown started to work! :)

I have started to send weekly writing reports to Jim. I sent the first one an hour ago.

Current Dissertation Draft
    includes 8 drafted chapter (plus bibliography), nearly 97,000 words in 186 pages. 

As Erkan turns into intense writing period here is his planned daily tasks for June:

* Scan and incorporate 1 week of blog archives into the draft.
* Continue interview transcriptions.
* Integrate thesis related reading notes into the draft.
* Do daily related reading.
* Prepare for the last batch of interviews that will start towards the end of summer.

Oh boy, it is only 50 minutes left for the Portugal-Turkey game! Time to stop! 

Posted by erkan at 07:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Another season is over in Turkish super league, Beşiktaş leaving us pointless for the future seasons. Whatever the case, I am determined to return and so i will buy the season ticket as soon as it is released. In the mean time, let's enjoy the final today.

I have been passing more and more time in my office and warming up my writing camp here for the summer.  Last night I left here at 11 pm but i guess I will be earlier today.

Atmosphere gains momentum ahead of Moscow final

Manchester United, Chelsea well matched in historic Champions League final

Continue reading "Tonight's fun: Champions League final..." »

Posted by erkan at 06:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dammit, i forgot my passport to make the US visa appointment. This passport always makes itself not available.

Anyway, I am rushing for the shuttle that will take me to Sabancı University that is located somewhere near İzmit. My former professor Ayşe Öncü invited me as a guest speaker for her Media and Politics seminar course. This event will be challenging. A very serious discussion of my dissertation topic...

Posted by erkan at 09:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Early minutes of the blog party. Çetin (far right) and I as usual  

Istanbul's weather got crazy today. It was a literally spring day. That refreshed my mind and soul and after an early room supervisor work in Kuştepe campus, I moved back to my office in SantralIstanbul and with an iron will I shut myself in, did not check my bloglines account and worked on my dissertation until this time- of course I had several breaks:)))

Dissertation writing has several levels. Today I basically focused on integrating my reading notes to the draft. As you might remember I got a reading craze recently and there are several articles and books on my table, in my bags and car waiting to be integrated to writing. Well, I did some integration today. However, integration work entails finding new readings. You know, those cited works. So I did lots of printing. More articles to read than I have integrated today.   

And let me announce that:

now I have approximately 76,700 words and 132 pages in the main dissertation draft (9 chapters drafted so far)... there are too many quotations, there is something messy about the style but there is certainly some progress:)

Later in the party 

 Now I am tired. I might do some reading later tonight. However, there are several sources of distraction: my dear friend Adviye and her husband are in town. I will meet them. I just got the call that Malta is crowded with people. there might be late night card playing. I have another movie to watch.

In the mean time, i have finished Joyce Carole Oates' Rape: A Love Story. The most riveting novel I have read recently. Ms. Oates never disappoints me. Now I will start a novel by Ian McEwan who is another favorite.

Posted by erkan at 06:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

 I am very pleased with my writing today. Approximately 6 chapters, 3 subchapters, 9000 words in 17 pages in the master draft.

 now that I deserve a reward:

"TO BE OR NOT TO BE " TIME FOR BESIKTAS AND FENERBAHCE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!...

update:

Besiktas and Fenerbahce hand and hand to Champions League!....

Posted by erkan at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)